4 The World Council

''So what's up with the whole commotion? Are they giving out tickets, for viewing the notorious Lucas Black?'',

''Notorious? What gave you that impression?'' asked Ashley.

''Not me, Layla; she seems to have quite a negative impression of him,'' I replied.

"Why? Didn't you ask her", inquired Ashley as we looked for a comfortable place to sit.

"I did it has something to do with him breaking a girls heart quite ruthlessly", they both nodded in understanding.

''So... Are you still taking magic lessons?'' asked Chloe, inquisitively.

''Yes, but it is so tiring, I am only adept at healing magic, whereas most celestial mages my age can practice advanced light magic, and I am far behind them," I said dejectedly.

Ashley added, "Well, it was bound to happen. You prefer regular schooling, as compared to others, you could go to the Academy Of The Otherworldly, like us it would certainly prove to be as advantageous."

"All of us could have so much fun, I wish you were there too," recommended Chloe.

''I know, I should, but it's my dream to be a scientist, and I can't do that at the academy, I'm barely handling the healing lessons, as it is. Well, leave the serious discussion for later, Let's enjoy the party."

''Did you meet Lucas Black, last night? I couldn't help, but overhear everyone singing his praises,'' asked Mother, while sipping her tea at breakfast.

''I did meet him briefly. Aunt Lydia introduced him,'' replied Layla, nonchalantly as she put some fruit in her plate.

''So?'' asked Mother, with an expectant look on her face.

'Huh... Here we go again. The motherly inquisition continues.'

''So what, Mother? That's it,'' answered Layla, flatly as she ate.

''What do you mean, that's it? You both met him, and yet don't have anything to say about how the conversation went?''

''Ohh no... Mother. I met him, Elena on the other hand, ran off to somewhere before she could be introduced to our esteemed host,'' told Layla, with a mischievous smile on her face, I faced her with utter disappointment, over her betrayal of our sisterly bond.

''What is your sister saying, Elena?'' Mom asked sharply, right as she turned her questioning gaze towards me.

''Mother, it's not my fault... I was thinking of the honour and prestige of our family, it was a sacrifice made to strengthen our familial bonds and protect the dignity of the White name.'' I stated, with the nobility of a martyred soldier, who had shed every drop of blood in the name of his country.

That earned me a choking sound from my father and sister and a well deserved frustrated sigh from my mother. ''Oh dear God, have mercy on me! The inner workings of her brain are beyond my understanding" exclaimed Mom.

''What are you trying to say? explain in words that us mere mortals can understand,'' added Mom, barely holding her temper at bay.

''Layla told me that the party in question, Mr... What was his name again...? Ah, yes Lucas Black is a rude fellow, with a sharp tongue and I should not provoke him, since it would cause a scene, that would result in me embarrassing our family, and you know how much I love my family. So I chose to avoid him, altogether, in the name of our family. My Lord, I mean my mother.'' I proclaimed in my defence.

Mother looked at me like one would look at an alien, contemplating whether to lecture me, correct me, or give up all pretence of civility and beat me up with a broomstick.

''Layla, get ready. The World Council Meeting starts in about an hour since you are accompanying your father for the first time, you should make haste. ''Mom turned to Layla, not even bothering to comment on my illogical explanation.

'Looks like I'm being ignored, altogether. Yaayy... Elena: 1 Mother: 0'

''Dad, why is Layla going and not me?'' I asked, with a pout on my face.

''Layla is older and a qualified mage. you are not. Plus, it's time she starts representing the White family. You, on the other hand, have much to learn. When your time comes, I will take you as well,'' replied Dad, in his ever so fatherly tone.

''You could take me as your assistant,'' I suggested.

''Lena!" said dad, exasperatedly.

''Okay fine, I won't say anything.''

Like the name suggested, the World Council was composed of 12 individuals from the three leading families or individuals, of every race known.

Celestials were creatures proficient in light and healing magic.

White, khan and Ling were the representing families.

Shifters were creatures that shared their souls with their inner beast; proficient in combat and stealth. They were represented by the Alphas of the largest and most powerful packs,

Darius Reed, Alpha of the Lunar Pack; Soran Ashcroft, Alpha of the Midnight Pack; and Jolene Rivera, Alpha of the Neptune Pack.

Some Humans born with magical abilities were labelled as mages, practitioners and enchanters; proficient in both light and dark magic. They were represented by three head mages; Marcel Freud, Miriam Abraham and Sirat Blue.

Vampires were creatures gifted with strength and stealth-like shifters, with an additional ability to drain people's blood for the sake of gaining power, an attribute highly frowned upon in modern times. Their representative families were the Black, Jafar, and Song.

Despite their fixed attribute of magic a lot of creatures were said to have various kinds of magic due to interbreeding between races that resulted in offsprings inborn talent for diverse magic.

With all these races combined, The council made important decisions for the sake of the otherworldly creatures around the globe.

The Council only convened, when an issue of utmost importance was raised. The current topic for the Council Meeting was rogue shifters.

creatures who forsake their humanity and revel in their predatory nature by hunting innocents are called rogues. They have increased strength and faster healing due to the consumption of magical blood. Rogues are a common problem in our world, every race has a few power-hungry or utterly unstable degenerates who went rogue, but lately, the number of rogue shifters is increasing, in rapid speed. Why? No one knew, but one thing was certain; they had a mastermind behind them. And thus began the series of events that would change not only my life but the life of so many others.

''Get up, Elena. It's nine o-clock, already,'' said Mom, as she entered my room to wake me up.

''Mom, I don't have classes today. Let me sleep,'' I said groggily.

''You going to the otherworldly academy, today.'' That woke me up. I sat up straight discarding my well-earned sleep and a comfy blanket.

''What? Why would I go to the academy? I have classes at the university'' I asked, as I tried to remove the last vestiges of sleep, from my eyes and headed to the bathroom while mum pulled the curtains aside to illuminate my room with bright daylight.

''It's been declared mandatory, every creature with magic is supposed to attend the academy in their region for defensive training against rogues, you are no exception. You should apply for a leave of absence.'' Mom explained as I brushed my teeth in front of the mirror. while taking note of my newly materialized dark circles.''